When I pull out my lawnmower and cut the grass for the first time of the season, it can sometimes be a challenge to clearly define where to stop on either side of my property, for there are no fences to prevent me from entering my neighbors’ grass. Once that first cut is made, it’s …
Category: Flourishing
Flourishing Test
“All of us want to live it. Everyone wants it for their children [and students]. But what exactly is the [flourishing] life?” Millions of people over thousands of years have been on a pilgrimage to offer some inkling of an answer to this existential question, and I am no different. A deep-rooted desire to effectively …
Habit of Attentiveness
“To thine own self be true.” Most of us find this a familiar phrase since it would be difficult to receive any education in the United States without an introduction to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While, yes, I do agree self-care is an important part of cultivating well-being and living a flourishing life, today’s culture might be …
Abiding Friendships
Have you ever stopped to consider the Abiding Friendships in your life? Consider the individuals God has placed in your life that have a profound Power of Presence. Are these people not an amazing blessing from above? This past week I was repeatedly reminded of the importance of Abiding Friendships in my life from a …
Rare Jewel
Never having had the opportunity to inspect the quality of a stone through a jeweler’s loupe, I can only imagine how exquisite it must be to see the detail of a Rare Jewel. Admittedly, without the small magnifying glass, I likely could not identify the difference between the Diamond-Z4 available for “only $29.95” and a …
Quitting Social Media
I’m too stubborn to quit much of anything; however, I am wise enough to discern that sometimes there are moments to cease what you are attempting, reflect on where things are going, and assess a best strategy for moving forward. As a Gen Xer navigating the digital age, I am finding myself Pressing Pause more …
Paper or Plastic
Paper or Plastic? Do you recall a specific time and place when this inquiry became a part of your decision-making process at the grocery store? If this question was never asked of you and you’ve only known the plastic bags with handles that serve so well as small garbage-can liners, ask an older relative if …
Trivial Pursuit
For a knowledge junkie like me, the Christmas gift of the board game Trivial Pursuit from Uncle Gene and Aunt Sissie in 1984 might earn high rankings on my list of all-time memorable gifts. For years, earning those colored wedges from categories like entertainment or sports & leisure was an enjoyable way to engage in …
Wary Not Worry
Being asked to serve on a panel of professors for the Christianity in the Academy conference is an intimidating request. Adding to that scenario the other panelists come from the disciplines of computer science, engineering, and theology, I’m a little doubtful that my perspective on flourishing at life from a health and wellness perspective will …
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Part 2
As I mentioned in Part 1, there is no great need for most of us to explain that humans are Wonderfully Made, with all the intricate systems that work together for the body to function, we can appreciate the creativity and craftsmanship involved. However, for me, the first part of this Psalm 139 passage is …
